Knife weeder



Patented May 18, 1937 PATENT oFFloE KNIFE WEEDER Walter R. Peterson, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 14, 1935, Serial No. 26,647

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cultivator knife weeder blade, and has for its principal object the provision of a blade which will have a plurality of adjustments so that the blade may be adjusted to run parallel with the ground or at various angles depending upon the result desired.

In various cultivating operations, it is often desirable to change the angle of the blade portion of the weeder with relation to the ground. With the ball and socket universal adjusting shank and blade, it is extremely diicult to make this adjustment and secure uniform setting of all the blades when a plurality of knife weeder blades are used, and since these knife weeder blades are right and left hand and as many as six to eight are used depending on the size oi' the cultivator, the necessity for a simpler and more accurate means for making these adjustments is readily apparent.

The main object of the invention is to provide a standard or shank for a knife weeder blade in which the bottom shank portion is so proportioned and formed that the weeder blade may be adjusted so that the face of the blade is vertical to the ground or the face of the blade may be placed at a definite angle to the ground and the weeder blade may be adjusted in a vertical plane parallel to the surface of the standard or shank in a plurality of positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shank in which a plurality of the weeder blades may be placed back to back and adjusted about the shank to form a hiller blade which may be used in hilling wherever the crops require it.

Another object is to so shape the shank and the weeder blade that the ground between the rows may be left level and the soil thrown either way.

Another object is to provide for adjustment of the shank and a plurality of the weeder blades so that a ditching blade may be formed which will leave a ditch of any desired depth or width and leave the ditch clean with a uniform bank along its side.

Another object is to provide for forming a duck foot blade by positioning a pair of blades on the shank; and, also means whereby, the duck foot type blade for weeding may be tilted at any given angle.

Another object is to provide blades for blocking or thinning such plants as cotton, beets, etc.

Another object is to provide three fixed or predetermined adjustments of the angle of. the blade portion of the weeder blade with relation to the 55 ground. This object is accomplished with either the right or left hand weeder blades and using only one cultivator standard for either the right or left hand blades.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects and other minor objects which will hereinafter be more specifically described and defined in the claims, the preferred forms of the improved details of structure are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figfire 1 is a front view of the knife weeder blade and shank with a plurality of blades adjusted for hilling;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the blade and shank as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the shank and blades as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front View showing the shank with a weeder blade in position for weeding or blocking and showing in dotted lines a blade of the opposite hand; and, also showing the cutting edge of the knife weeder blade set at its medium setting;

Figure 5 is a front view showing the shank with a weeder blade attached to the shank showing the cutting edge of the weed-er blade set at its shallowest setting;

Figure 6 is a front view similar to Figure 5 showing the shank and blade with a blade of the opposite hand to that Shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front view showing the shank with the weeder blade as shown in Figures 4 and 5 attached to the shank showing the cutting edge of the weeder blade set at its maximum setting; and,

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Figure 3 showing the angle of the blade portion with relation to the ground, and this section shows the medium setting which is the same as shown in Figure 4, while the lower dotted position shows the shallowest setting as shown in Figure 5, and the upper dotted position shows the maximum setting as shown in Figure 7.

The invention is herein disclosed in combination with a knife weeder blade and a particular standard having a lower portion adaptable for adjusting the knife weeder blades thereon. The knife weeder blades are generally used in pairs with one having a right hand blade and the other a left hand blade. Each knife weeder blade lll comprises a forwardly extending cutting blade I I having a sharp undercut front edge portion. The blade is turned outwardly and rearwardly at the bottom to form a relatively narrow knife portion I2 which issharpened at the front edge, and this edg e is a continuation of the front edge of the forwardly extending cutting blade. Extending rearwardly from the forwardly extending cutting blade II and in the same plane is a shield I3 which acts to shield the plants from clods or stones when the blade is used in cultivating.

Intermediate the forwardly extending cutting blade I i and the shield I3 is located the upwardly extending arcuate portion Id. Secured to this upwardly extending arcuate portion Ill is the shank I5. The shank I5 is pivotally mounted to the upwardly extending arcuate portion I4 at I 6 and may be locked thereto by the nut and bolt Il'. The blade Il] may be adjusted about the shank I5 in a vertical plane by means of the arcuate slot II! and is secured in adjusted position by the nut and bolt I9. As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of knife weeder blades ID and I8 are secured with the adjacent faces formed bythe forwardly extending cutting blades H and II and rearwardly extending shieldportions I3 together. These knife weeder blades vEE) and I5 are secured to the shank I5 at the lower portion 20 thereof with the faces II and i3 of the blades I0 and I secured to the face 2i. In order that the carriage head bolts I'I and I9 may be flush with the surface, the side portion of the bottom portion of the shank V25 has bosses undercut so that the nuts may be secured against a flat surface. With the blades as shown in Figure l, the bladesmay be used `for hilling and whenever angular adjustment is needed of the blades in a vertical plane this may be secured by adjusting the blades relative to the shank vI4 by the slot I8.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the blade I9 is secured to the shank I5 similar to the position of the blade i5 as shown in Figure 1 with the single blade as shown` in Figure 4. The shank and blade when positioned in this manner are used in blocking or cultivating. The dotted portion of Figure 4 showing the blade Ill thereon shows the opposite hand of the `knife weeder blade when positioned for cultivating or blocking. It is to be understood that, when'it is necessary, adjustment of the knifeweeder blades II and Ill' in a position in a vertical plane about the shank 'I5 may be securedby Aadjusting the blades lll and Ill by means of .the slot 'l as shown in Figure `2. The vposition of .the knife weeder blade I on the vshank I5 as shown in Figure 5 shows the blade EG when it is used in blocking or cultivating, with the knife blade portion I2 at an angle to the ground which is sometimes necessary. This is accomplished by having thelower portion 2i) of the shank I5 with a surface 22 at an angle to the surface .2i of the shank I5 with the blade vsecured to this surfacei22.

As shown in Figure 5, the knife portion I2 is set at a certain definite angle with respect to the ground. It is to be understood that the angle formed between the faces .22 and y2l may be of any size, but the one chosen here is the one most suitable for all types of cultivating and blocking. In order that the carriage head portionsiof the bolts il and -IQ may be flush, the surface 2I is undercut as Vshown in 'Figure 5, forming bosses to which the heads of the bolt may be secured in a ush position.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure V5, but with .a knife weeder blade I E! of the opposite hand. In the structure shown, the shank I5 isused for either right or left hand knife weeder blades I and Ill. It is also to be understood that the shank I5 at its upper end is suitably secured to the cultivator beams of a cultivator and that the shanks I5 in turn may be adjusted relative to the cultivator beams by suitable brackets thereon. The blades Iii may be of any suitable material and may be also hardened and heat treated. The cutting edges of the forwardly extending portion `II and knife blade I2 are suitably sharpened and the surfaces are suitably polished'to aid in scouring.

,In Figures 4, 5, and 7, is shown the right hand knife weeder blade in three fixed or predetermined'adjustments. These adjustments are obtained by the particular form of the lower portion 2G of the shank I5 where the knife weeder blade I5 attaches, one surface being vertical on one side as at 2l and the opposite surface being at an angle to the first surface 2l, as at 22. By bolting-the blade Ill to the surface 2| as in Figure 4, the knife portion I2 is set at its medium cutting position, as is shown in Figure 8 in the solid lines. When bolted to the face 22 as shown in Figure 5, the shallowest setting of the knife portion I2 is obtained as is shown in the lower dotted section 4t2 of Figure 8. The third adjustment is obtained as shown in Figure 7 by reversing the shank I5 to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 and securing the knife weeder blade I il tothe surface 22. It may be necessary to adjust the knife weeder blade It by the arcuate slot 'I8' similar to slot I8 as shown in Figure 2, in order `to keep the cutting edge of the knife portion I2 or I2 parallel tothe ground. It is to be understood that further adjustments may be had in each position shown in Figures 4, v5, and '7, but that the settings of the blade portion I2 as shown in Figure 8 is preferable. The settings previously described provide for three predetermined angles for the blade portion l2 of the knife weeder blade with relation to the ,ground with eitherthe right or left hand weeder blades and insure a simple and uniform adjustment of all the weeder blades.

The shank I5 may be reversed as shown in Figure 7 to its position as shown in Figures 4 site to the position it was rst in, as` for instance as shown in Figures 4 and 7. The shank 4I5 and its attached knife weeder blade vla or lil may be adjusted vertically by sliding the shank I5 between the strap 25 and the shank bracket 2 and securing it in its adjust-ed position.

The shank bracket 2I and its attached shank I5 may also be adjusted on the shovel beam 28 by loosening the nuts 24 on the U-shaped'clamp bolt .25 and securing it in its adjusted position. In this manner, the shank I5 may be adjusted vertically with respect to the -shovel'beam, longitudinally of the shovel beam, and the shank vIti may be also reversed so that the lower portion 20 with its face 22 may be opposite to a former position -in order that the knife weeder blades may have their knife portions I2 adjusted in three known settings as shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, and 8.

vThe standard I5 may also take any other shape as round or square, preferablyround, and when a round shank is used and a suitable shank bracket 21, the knife portion I2 and I 2 of the blades I0 and IG may be adjusted laterally in ahorizontal plane when used as shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 in a plurality of positions to provide the best cutting angle for the condition in which the blades are used in cultivating.

When employed for cultivating of row crops, the knife weeder blades are arranged in pairs of opposite hands so that the blades I0 and iii' will travel on opposite sides of the row, as best shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. As the blades are drawn along the row, the sharp front edges of the forwardly extending portion II of the blades Ill cut the soil along each side of the plant row so as to prevent the disturbing of the soil around the roots of the plants. The knife blade portions I2 pass under the soil between the rows of the plants cutting the weeds and stirring the soil.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, a V-portion 23 is formed between the rearwardly extending shield portion at I3 and the knife blade portions at I2 so that as the blade i0 or Iii', as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, are used in cultivating, the shields I3 protect the plants fro-m clods and stones while the fine soil is permitted to pass over the knife surface I2 and entering the vportion 23 packs up closely about the plants.

The knife portions I2 are usually set at a slightly upwardly inclined angle which will cause the blades to properly weed and loosen the soil; however, in trashy ground the blades can be turned at an abrupt angle to the ground line by adjusting the blades by means of a slot I8 with respect to the shank so that the blades I2 will automatically clear themselves.

When the blades are used for hilling, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the soil will be separated between the rows of the plants and carried by the blades I2 towards the rows of the plants and piled against the plants.

The blades, when used in ditching between the rows are in the position as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but the rear portions of the knife weeder blades I0 and I0 are adjusted upwardly at an acute angle relative to the Shank I5 by means of the slot I8. With the knife Weeder blades thus set for ditching, the blades I2 part the soil, and shape and form a V-shaped ditch between the rows with the blades I2 depositing the soil alongside the plants.

The width, depth, or angle of this ditch may be adjusted by changing the angularity of the blades IE! and I0' by means of the slot I8. When they are used for ditching, it may be necessary to secure another shank I5 to the other weeder blade Iii in order to have a more rigid shank structure because of the earth pressure against the blades I0 and I0.

When it is necessary to use the blades Ill and I0' for weeding between close rows, the shank and blades may be assembled as shown in Figures l and 3, and when positioned in this manner the blades I0 and I are close together so that they will function as a unit.

When using these blades, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, to block or thin the plant rows.

The preferred embodiment of the invention herein described is capable of certain modifications without departing from the scope of the invention to be defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a cultivator standard having a shank portion, said shank portion having a plurality orf adjusting surfaces formed at a given vertical angle to each other and to the plane of the standard and each surface adapted one at a time to secure a cultivator blade thereto, said shank portion having a plurality of holes connecting opposite adjusting surfaces, and adapted for positioning the means for securing a cultivator blade in adjusted position to either one of the opposite adjusting surfaces.

2. The combination with a cultivator standard and a cultivator blade, of a shank portion for said cultivator standard, said shank portion having a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed at a given vertical angle to each other and to the piane of the cultivator standard and each adjusting surface adapted one at a time to secure a cultivator blade thereto, means for pivoting a, cultivator blade on either of said adjusting surfaces, and means for securing the aforesaid cultivating blade to the aforesaid adjusting surface in adjusted position.

3. The combination with a cultivator standard and a cultivator blade, of a shank portion for saidA cultivator standard, said shank portion having a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed at a given vertical angle to each other and to the plane of the cultivator standard and each adjusting surface adapted one at a time to secure a cultivator blade thereto, and means for adjustably attaching a cultivator blade to each adjusting surface one at a time.

4. The combination with a cultivatorstandardy and a cultivator blade, of a shank portion for said cultivator standard, said shank portion having a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed at a given vertical angle to each other and to the plane of the cultivator standard `and each adjusting surface adapted one at a time to secure a cultivator blade thereto, and means for securing the aforesaid cultivator blade to any one of the aforesaid adjusting surfaces.

5. The combination of a cultivator standard, a cultivator blade having a knife portion, said standard having a shank portion provided with a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed thereon at a given vertical angle to each other, means providing for reversal of the standard so that the aforesaid adjusting surfaces can be reversed and symmetrically disposed with respect to their original position, each adjusting surface being adapted one at a time to have a cultivator blade secured thereto in each of the aforesaid positions of the cultivator standard, whereby the aforesaid knife portion of the cultivator blade may have a plurality of fixed settings, and means for securing the aforesaid cultivator blade to any one of the aforesaid adjusting surfaces.

6. The combination of a cultivator standard, a cultivator blade having a knife portion, said standard having a shank portion provided with a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed thereon at a given vertical angle to each other and in different angular relations to the standard, means providing for reversal of the standard so that the aforesaid adjusting surfaces can be reversed and symmetrically disposed with respect to their original position, each adjusting surface being adapted one at a time to have a cultivator blade secured thereto in each of Ethe aforesaid positions of the cultivator standard, ".Whereby :the aforesaid knife portion of the -cultivator blade may have a plurality of xed settings, and means for securing the aforesaid cultivator.bladeitol'any one of theaforesaid adjusting surfaces.

7. The combination-of a-cultivator standard, a cultivator blade having a knife portion, said standard having a shank 'portion provided with a plurality of adjusting surfaces formedzthereon at a given vertical angle to each other, one of said surfaces lying in the Yplane of the standard, means kproviding for reversal of the standard so that-the aforesaid adjusting surfaces can be reversed and symmetrically disposed with respect to their original position, each adjusting surface being adapted one at atime tovhave a cultivator blade secured thereto in each of the aforesaid positions of the cultivator standard, whereby the aforesaid knife portion of vthe cultivator blade may have al plurality of fixed settings, and means for securing the aforesaid cultivator blade to any one of the aforesaid adjusting surfaces.

8. The combination of a cultivator standard, a cultivator blade having a knife portion, said standard having a shank portion provided With a plurality of adjusting surfaces formed thereon Aat a given vertical angle to each other, means providing for reversal of the standard so that the aforesaid adjustingsurfaces vcanLbe reversed and symmetrically disposed with respect to their original position, each adjusting surface being adapted one at a time to haveacultivator blade secured thereto in each ofthe aforesaid positions of the standard, whereby the aforesaid knifeportion of the cultivator blade may have a plurality of fxed settings, and means for adjusting the cultivator blade relative Vto the cultivator standard in the plane of. either of the adjusting surfaces to which it is attached.

9. The combination of a standard having a wedged shaped shank portion at its lower end presenting oppositely -disposed cultivator blade attaching surfaces, -a cultivator 'blade having a laterally extending knife portion, and means providing rfor attachment of .the cultivatorlblade to each adjusting surface one at a time so that the knife portion'o'f the cultivator blade may be adjusted in a plurality of yfixed settings.

l0. A standard having a Wedge-shaped shank portion at its lower end presenting oppositely disposed cultivator blade attaching surfaces,'the attaching surfaces being at a given vertical angle to each other, a plane at right angles to the standard intersecting the planes of the attaching surfaces in parallel lines.

`VV'ALTER R. PETERSON. 

